Horsemeat Scandal 2013: The Eight Most Ridiculous Moments

LOOK: The Most Absurd Horsemeat Scandal Moments
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A year ago, Britain was in the throes of a horsemeat crisis, as food investigators found the stuff in much beloved supermarket treats.

Irish food inspectors found horsemeat in one Tesco product, with the supermarket giant forced to publish apologies in the press. Up to 100% horsemeat was found in Findus lasagnes, when it was supposed to be beef.

Since then, appalled Brits are thinking twice before tucking into their meaty treats with many sampling non-meat alternatives such as Quorn, which enjoyed a 10.3% net sales growth last year and a rise in sales volumes of 13% on 2012.

To look back on the horsemeat scandal, here are the six most utterly ridiculous moments, with supermarkets slipping up as we panicked over tucking into a surprise pony burger.

Horsemeat scandal
Tesco horsed around (01 of04)
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Retail giant Tesco had to pull its Everyday Value burgers off shelves after food investigators found horsemeat made up nearly a third of them.Pity the social media team didn't get the message as they let a pre-scheduled tweet go out with a decidedly equine 'hit the hay'.
Princess Anne says tuck in(02 of04)
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Princess Anne weighed in to urge Britons to consider changing their attitude toward eating horse meat.The queen's daughter, a former British Olympic equestrian competitor, said the question "needs a debate".
Labour suggests 70,000 horses had gone A.W.O.L(03 of04)
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Mary Creagh, then shadow environment secretary, apologized for a "slip of the tongue" after suggesting 70,000 horses were unaccounted for in Northern Ireland.
But we still want to laugh about it(04 of04)
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This £39.99 costume of a "horse burger" is now sold out, with the description:"Yay or neigh? Become the flavour of the year."This costume is the odds on favourite at many local supermarkets."Disclosure: Horse content is not 100% guaranteed."